Toasty Hot! | Evaluating Monrovia City Manager, Attorney

~ The National Weather Service has predicted it is going to be toasty hot - maybe over 100 - later this week and into next week. Monrovia will provide a cooling station at the Community Center, 119 West Palm. Details here: http://goo.gl/brJ2m

~ The Monrovia City Council will evaluate the City Manager and City Attorney at a special closed meeting this Thursday. http://goo.gl/lGnIH

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Reports Loss

The Wall Street Journal reports Monrovia's AeroVironment had a fiscal fourth-quarter loss of four cents per share: http://goo.gl/BTloM

LA Times adds that revenue was down 51 percent in the company's fourth quarter: http://goo.gl/BCoAI

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman Disappointed in Supreme Court Decision

A statement by Assemblyman Chris Holden:

"I am disappointed by today's Supreme Court Decision to invalidate the formula used to assess states' and counties' application of the 1985 Voting Rights Act. The Court focused its decision on the fact that the "racial gap in turnout" had been reduced in states subject to oversight since the 1980's.

I believe this is evidence that the Voting Rights Act has been working as intended and should have been left alone. The court's dissent noted that 700 state and local voting changes were rejected by the Department of Justice between 1982 and 2006-strong evidence that the coverage formula and federal oversight has averted minority voter suppression of various forms.

I certainly believe that the future of the Voting Rights Act is at risk. I call on Congress to set aside partisan difference and come together to redraft the coverage formula to restore this important piece of Civil Rights Legislation."

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Library: More Computer Users Than Book Readers

Went to the adult section of the Monrovia Library this afternoon and took a flash count - 33 people using computers and 11 with a book, magazine or newspaper. And that 11 would have been even lower if it wasn't for students studying textbooks. I wonder where libraries are going.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Offers Dog Poop Disposal as an Advertising Opportunity

The City of Monrovia's Recreation Division has an advertising opportunity for local businesses - sponsor a dog-poop disposal-bag dispenser box. $425 to sponsor a "Mutt Mitt" box for one year. Details (bottom of page): http://goo.gl/OSLmn

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Driving Under the Influence; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 20-23. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol / Drugs – Suspect Arrested
June 20 at 11:27 p.m., police received a call from a citizen reporting a possible drunk driver in the area of Myrtle and Foothill.  Officers responded and observed the driver swerving on the roadway and conducted a traffic stop.  Through investigation, officers determined the driver was under the influence; the driver was suspected of being under the influence of both alcohol and prescription medication.  She was arrested and taken into custody.

Unlicensed Driver / Possession of a Dangerous Weapon / Carrying a Concealed Firearm in Vehicle / Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
June 21 at 8:52 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of California and Monrovista conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a vehicle code violation and discovered the driver was unlicensed.  As he was conducting an inventory search to store the vehicle, he located a baton, a loaded semi-automatic pistol under the driver's seat, and a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine.  The driver was subsequently arrested for the above listed charges.

Drones Spread from Military to Civilian Use

An article on drones in general and Monrovia-based AeroVironment in particular. http://goo.gl/iHMNL

- Brad Haugaard

Opinion: Monrovia, Please Don't Ban Plastic Bags

A Monrovia woman is planning to ask the City Council during its July 2 meeting to impose a ban on plastic bags in the city, according to a posting in the Nextdoor.com system.

Opinion: I really hope the Monrovia City Council does NOT do this. Why? 1. Because I don't think it is any of the city's concern if a business wants to use plastic bags and I don't like the current wave of governmental butting in to people's lives. 2. I have heard complaints by people who shop in Pasadena about its ban. If they are out and want to buy some stuff and they forgot to bring their tote-bag, tough, or they have to buy a bag. 3. There are health concerns with banning plastic bags because the alternative, re-usable bags, may spread disease. From a study of San Francisco's ban: "There is evidence, however, that reusable grocery bags, a common substitute for plastic bags, contain potentially harmful bacteria, especially coliform bacteria such as E. coli." http://goo.gl/dLYFX

- Brad Haugaard

Do We Have a Monrovia Schools Superintendent Candidate?

The Monrovia Board of Education will hold a special, closed meeting this Monday, June 24 ( http://goo.gl/ooSEq ), to discuss contract provisions for a new superintendent. After the closed session the board will publicly announce what it did in the closed session. Comment: Hmmm. Just guessing, but I wonder if the board has a candidate now and will make that person a contract offer in the closed meeting.

- Brad Haugaard

Layoffs at Monrovia Schools, Compensation for Teachers, Rules for Students, The Budget

At its Wednesday, June 26 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/INH9U ), the Monrovia School Board will consider, among other things ...

~ Laying off 10 part time classified employees (equivalent to 6.66 full timers) for lack of work ( http://goo.gl/Mzgll ), and hiring one new full time person in food services ( http://goo.gl/sRvYh ).

~ A compensation package for Monrovia teachers. Basically, it appears the teachers will get a boost in their health/welfare plan, but nothing else. For 13-14, 4.67%, for 14-15, 4.46%, for 15-16, 4.27%. http://goo.gl/q8NQo

~ A board policy for student conduct. A couple interesting items: no laser pointers except for instructional purposes, and no using electronics in class. http://goo.gl/yyao9

~ A board policy on nondiscrimination and harassment ( http://goo.gl/eo3QT ). Comment: I've always been wary of these things going overboard and essentially outlawing free speech and criminalizing disagreement, but this policy seems to limit violations to "severe" problems. Still, I would like to see a line that says something like, "Nothing in this policy shall be deemed to prohibit non-threatening discussion or disagreement."

~ The 2013-14 budget. http://goo.gl/mfeVS

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Gets Prison for Bomb Threat

Monrovian Gerardo Cortez, 25, sentenced to 16 months in prison for making bomb threat in Pasadena. http://goo.gl/qRcFL

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Hon Sushi

Lunch at Hon Sushi in the Pavilions center. Got the $10.50 Lunch Box Special with chicken teriyaki and spicy tuna roll, and an iced tea ($1.50). Plus tax and tip. Comes with miso soup. Friendly service and nice food.

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia's Meringue Bakery Anniversary

Meringue Bakery and Cafe (110 E. Colorado) fifth anniversary party on June 23, 1 p.m. Potato balls and sangria, and a free slice of Cuban cake. Details: http://goo.gl/pxgnZ

- Brad Haugaard

23 New Youth Leaders for Monrovia

Monrovia Area Partnership Graduates 23 New Youth Leaders. Details: http://goo.gl/2VG62

- Brad Haugaard

All-Day Session on Becoming Involved in Monrovia

The free Fourth Annual MAP Neighborhood Conference will be held Aug. 10. A full day of 23 conference classes on how to get to know your neighbors, become more involved and meet great people. Classes include Mayor's Bus Tour of the City, becoming active as a neighborhood organizer, preventing bullying, and the heart of great leadership. Breakfast and lunch are provided.

Details in flyer here: http://goo.gl/T84MO

Video and registration here: http://goo.gl/T4SUi

- Brad Haugaard